By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has paid a solidarity visit to former Kaduna State governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, following an alleged attempt by security operatives to arrest him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on February 12, 2026.
The incident reportedly occurred shortly after El-Rufai’s arrival from Cairo, escalating tensions across Nigeria’s political landscape. According to his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, security agents approached El-Rufai immediately after he disembarked from his flight, attempting to detain him.
El-Rufai reportedly resisted the agents, insisting he would not comply without a formal invitation or warrant. Following the encounter, his legal team alleged that his international passport was seized by the operatives. They described the attempted arrest as unlawful, claiming that El-Rufai had already communicated with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and agreed to appear voluntarily on February 16, 2026.
In light of the events surrounding the airport incident, Atiku condemned the alleged attempt to detain El-Rufai as an affront to the rule of law, labelling the situation a “national embarrassment.” His visit has been interpreted as a significant political gesture amid the ongoing tensions and emerging alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As El-Rufai prepares to honour the EFCC invitation, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the prevailing political volatility in Nigeria, raising concerns about the implications for democratic norms and due process.
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